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May 27, 2011Contact: Susan Galloway, (360) 902-2267

Fish and Wildlife Commission to meet June 3-4

OLYMPIA — The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to hear briefings on several topics, ranging from cougar management to the state Endangered Species Act, at a meeting June 3-4 in Olympia.

The commission, which sets policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will convene at 8:30 a.m. both days in Room 172 on the first floor of the Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington St. S.E. A complete meeting agenda is available on the commission’s website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings.html.

During the two-day meeting, the commission is scheduled to hear a briefing on cougar management, including research projects, population objectives, hunting seasons and outreach and education.

The commission also will be briefed on population trends of other predators – such as black bear and coyote – and predator-prey management.

Also during the meeting, the commission is scheduled to hear briefings on several other topics, including:

An overview of the state Endangered Species Act.

An update on revisions to the draft state Wolf Conservation and Management Plan.

Efforts to protect and rebuild weak salmon and steelhead stocks.

Management of coastal forage fish.

An overview of the state hatchery system.

In other business, the commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing on proposed amendments to the list of game reserves. The proposed amendments would clarify and update the boundary description for Swinomish Spit Game Reserve and eliminate the Ellensburg Game Farm Reserve and South Tacoma Game Farm Reserve.

The commission also is scheduled to take action on several proposed land transactions.